Decepticon Mini-Cassette

This article is about the subgroup sometimes referred to as Recordicons. For the comic strip about them, see Recordicons.

The Decepticon Mini-Cassettes are a subgroup of Decepticons (some of whom may go on to become Predacons) from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Eject! Operation: Illustration.

The Decepticon Mini-Cassettes (also known as Spy Cassettes and Recordicons) are Decepticons (and in one case, a Predacon) who, on Earth, transform into analog audio cassettes. They can fit into Soundwave's chest compartment, though their apparent relationship to Soundwave varies depending on continuity.

Many of these troops have communication or espionage roles. Recycling of body designs is common among them as well. Their counterparts amongst the Autobots are the Autobot Mini-Cassettes.

In the days of Megatron, Decepticons developed the art of espionage using cassette technology.Teletraan II, "Secret Files of Teletraan II"

Known Decepticon Mini-Cassettes

Generation 1

• Autoscout (a cartoon only character) A Prime Problem
• Beastbox and Squawktalk, who can combine to form Squawkbox.
• Buzzsaw
• Enemy
• Flip Sides
• Frenzy
• Garboil
• Glit
• Howlback
• Laserbeak
• Overkill
• Ratbat
• Ravage
• Rumble
• Slugfest
• Sundor
• Wingthing
• Ravage clones (comic only characters) G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 3
• Many other generics.

Shattered Glass

• Buzzsaw (comic only character) Shattered Glass
• Enemy (comic only character) Recordicons #4
• Frenzy (fiction only character) Shattered Glass Eye in the Sky
• Garboil (comic only character) Recordicons #5
• Glit (comic only character) Recordicons #14
• Howlback (comic only character) Recordicons #5
• Laserbeak (fiction only character) Shattered Expectations Shattered Glass
• Overkill (fiction only character) Do Over
• Ratbat
• Ravage
• Rumble (comic only character) Shattered Glass
• Slugfest
• Beastbox and Squawktalk

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

For the most part, the Decepticon Mini-Cassettes did not appear to have a particularly special or unique relationship with Soundwave. Soundwave occasionally carried Laserbeak within his chest compartment, releasing him for surprise attacks. Warrior School!

More often, the Mini-Cassette troops used their small alternate modes for stealth, disguise and transportation by other characters. Rumble and Frenzy frequently hitched rides in the cockpit of the Decepticon jets, for example. DIS-Integrated Circuits! Ravage used his cassette form on several occasions to spy on humans. Power Play! Three of the cassette troops were taken out of play by Omega Supreme Command Performances! and remained inoperative for quite some time, while Ravage was dropped into a mine shaft by the Autobot Skids, Showdown! taking him out of play for even longer. Only Laserbeak remained operative, acting as a sort of totem of Decepticon leadership. Command Performances!

Ratbat assumed a cassette form upon traveling to Earth, and used this disguise to monitor his human accomplices. Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

The Mini-Cassettes acted as a sort of special-missions force, under the command of their host Soundwave. Soundwave could store numerous cassettes within his chest, at times ejecting as many as four at once. The Transformers: The Movie Call of the Primitives

Laserbeak was frequently sent to spy on the Autobots at Autobot Headquarters, once using his cassette form to sneak in. Divide and Conquer Ravage likewise used his cassette mode to infiltrate Teletraan I and steal information about Earth's resources. More than Meets the Eye, Part 2 Rumble was used more often to destroy stuff, though all three frequently engaged in battle.

The less-seen Buzzsaw and Frenzy also appeared on occasion, usually acting in conjunction with Laserbeak and Rumble, respectively. Countdown to Extinction Atlantis, Arise! The Immobilizer

Years later, Ratbat joined the cassette forces; like Laserbeak, he specialized in spy work and reconnaissance, particularly in tight quarters inaccessible to Laserbeak. Secret Files of Teletraan II

Some time after that, Overkill and Slugfest also joined Soundwave's troops. Call of the Primitives

Madman The Transformers comic

In the year 2001, Soundwave unleashed his army of new Mini-Cassettes to steal the Autobot Matrix of Leadership from a secure bunker at the construction site of Autobot City on Earth. They were interrupted during their excavation by Hot Rod, who successfully disabled Soundwave and his various helpers, retrieving the Matrix. The Transformers

Japanese cartoon continuity

=====Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers